Explorer-a modular AUV for commercial site survey

Abstract

Fugro Survey and ISE are developing a modular AUV for deep water, commercial site survey. The Explorer AUV is intended initially for operations in depths of up to 3500 meters where it will conduct seabed surveys more economically than deep tow systems. Explorer will carry a full suite of seabed survey equipment including a multibeam echosounder (swathe bathymetry), dual frequency sidescan sonar and subbottom profiler, magnetometer, and conductivity temperature and depth probe (CTD). The vehicle will have a top speed of 2.5 meters per second and a range of 300 km with the capability of upgrading the range to 750 km with a fuel cell. Throughout its survey mission, the vehicle will maintain a navigational accuracy sufficient to meet the oil industry requirement of data positioning accuracy within 5 to 20 meters. Development of the vehicle commenced in the summer of 1999. In this paper, the authors review the factors and trade-off considerations which led to the selection of the Explorer vehicle configuration, pressure hull design, power source, control, navigational and positioning, sensor data management and acoustic telemetry, and finally, the approach to launch and recovery.